Touch-sensitive device and production method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A touch-sensitive device includes a cover plate, at least one touch-sensing electrode, a masking layer, at least one trace and a plurality of electrically-conductive interconnects. The touch-sensing electrode is disposed on the cover plate and extends in a specific direction. The mask layer is disposed on a periphery of the cover plate and covers part of the touch-sensing electrode. The trace is disposed on the masking layer opposite to the touch-sensing electrode. The electrically-conductive interconnects penetrate the masking layer and are spaced apart from one another. Each of the electrically-conductive interconnects interconnects the touch-sensing electrode and the trace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No.201410611911.8, filed on Oct. 29, 2014.

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to touch-sensitive devices, and more particularlyto touch-sensitive devices with improved appearance, and productionmethods for making the touch-sensitive devices.

Related Art of the Invention

Touch displays are commonly used in modern electronic devices fordisplay and input. Touch displays provide a more intuitive way tooperate electronic devices. With technological development, besidesdisplay quality and touch input capabilities associated with the touchdisplay, appearance is also a crucial factor that affects userexperience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a touch-sensitivedevice with an improved appearance.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a productionmethod of making the touch-sensitive device.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided atouch-sensitive device, which includes a cover plate, at least onetouch-sensing electrode, a masking layer, at least one trace and aplurality of electrically-conductive interconnects. The touch-sensingelectrode is disposed on the cover plate and extends in a specificdirection. The masking layer is disposed on a periphery of the coverplate and covers part of the touch-sensing electrode. The trace isdisposed on the masking layer opposite to the touch-sensing electrode.The electrically-conductive interconnects penetrate the masking layerand are spaced apart from one another. Each of theelectrically-conductive interconnects the touch-sensing electrodes andthe trace.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda production method of making a touch-sensitive device, which includesthe steps of: (A) forming at least one touch-sensing electrode on acover plate and along a specific direction; (B) forming a masking layerthat is disposed on a periphery of the cover plate, that covers part ofthe touch-sensing electrode and that is formed with a plurality ofspaced apart through holes at regions covering the touch-sensingelectrode; and (C) forming a plurality of electrically-conductiveinterconnects in the through holes, and forming at least one trace thatis disposed on the masking layer opposite to the touch-sensing electrodeand that is connected to the electrically-conductive interconnects.

The effect of the present disclosure is to improve the appearance of thetouch-sensitive device with various designs of theelectrically-conductive interconnects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment withreference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a touch-sensitivedevice according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4, 5 are multiple variations of the exemplary embodiment of thetouch-sensitive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Before the present disclosure is described in greater detail withreference to the accompanying exemplary embodiment with multiplevariations, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted bythe same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, some embodiments of a touch-sensitive device1 according to the present disclosure may be used in smart phones,tablet computers, notebook computers and other electronic devices. Thetouch-sensitive device 1 includes a cover plate 2, a plurality of firsttouch-sensing electrodes 3, a plurality of second touch-sensingelectrodes 4, a masking layer 5, a plurality of first traces 6, aplurality of second traces 7 and a plurality of electrically-conductiveinterconnects 8 (shown in FIG. 2).

The cover plate 2 is a surface structure for a user to touch and may bea rigid substrate (e.g., a glass substrate), a flexible substrate orother types of substrates.

The first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 are disposed on thecover plate 2 in a crisscross manner. The first touch-sensing electrodes3 extend in a specific direction different from that of the secondtouch-sensing electrodes 4. In some embodiments, the first and secondtouch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 are made of a light-transmissible andconductive material selected from indium tin oxide (ITO), aluminum-dopedzinc oxide (AZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), tin oxide(SnO₂), indium oxide (In₂O₃) and the like. In some embodiments, thefirst and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 are made of a conductivematerial selected from nano silver, nano copper, carbon nano tube, metalmesh and the like. When a user touches the cover plate 2, a capacitancechange is induced and recorded as a touch signal. In some embodiments,each of the first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 isstrip-shaped. In some embodiments, the shape, number, dimension andspacing of the first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 is variedaccording to practical requirements. Moreover, in some embodiments, thefirst and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 are respectivelyconfigured as a single-layered light-transmissible and conductive filmas shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive device 1further includes an insulating layer (not shown) and a connecting wire(not shown) disposed at intersections of the first and secondtouch-sensing electrodes 3, 4. Besides the configuration disclosed insome embodiments, the first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 arerespectively configured as a double-layered light-transmissible andconductive film. The configuration of the first and second touch-sensingelectrodes 3, 4 may be varied for different requirements and should notbe limited by the examples disclosed herein.

The masking layer 5 is disposed on a periphery of the cover plate 2 andcovers part of the first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4. Insome embodiments, the masking layer 5 has a single-layered ormulti-layered film structure made of color photoresist, color ink, etc.for ornamental purposes and covering the first and second touch-sensingelectrodes 3, 4.

The first and second traces 6, 7 are disposed on the masking layer 5opposite to the first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 andrespectively partially overlap the first and second touch-sensingelectrodes 3, 4. The first and second traces 6, 7 transfer touch signalsgenerated by the first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 toexternal devices. In some embodiments, the first and second traces 6, 7are made using conductive metal with film deposition or patterningtechniques, or conductive silver paste with a screen printing technique.The materials and techniques used for forming the first and secondtraces 6, 7 should not be limited by the examples disclosed herein.

The electrically-conductive interconnects 8 are spaced apart from oneanother and penetrate the masking layer 5 for electrical interconnectionof the first touch-sensing electrodes 3 to the first traces 6, andelectrical interconnection of the second touch-sensing electrodes 4 tothe second traces 7. FIGS. 2 and 3 show interconnection of one of thefirst touch-sensing electrodes 3 and a corresponding one of the firsttraces 6. In some embodiments, the electrically-conductive interconnects8 are made of electrically-conductive carbon adhesive. In otherembodiments, the electrically-conductive interconnects 8 and the firstand second traces 6, 7 are all made of the same material selected fromsilver paste, metal and the like. When made of the same material, insome embodiments, the first traces 6, the second traces 7 and theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 are integrally formed in thesame processing step.

In some embodiments, each of the electrically-conductive interconnects 8is a cylinder and has a width (W) (i.e., diameter) ranging from about0.005 mm to about 0.05 mm. In other examples, each of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 may have a cross-section shapedas a rectangle, polygon, etc. The cross-section of each of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 is not limited to that disclosedherein. At a distance of 30 cm between the naked eye of a user and adisplay screen, the naked eye perceives a resolution of about 0.05 mmfor adjacent pixels of the display screen. That is to say, at the sameobservation distance of 30 cm, two adjacent pixels may be viewed as acontinuous pixel if the adjacent pixels are spaced apart at a distanceof less than about 0.05 mm. Therefore, in some embodiments, the width(W) of each of the electrically-conductive interconnects 8 is notgreater than about 0.05 mm, such that the user may not perceive theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 and may see part of the maskinglayer 5 surrounding the electrically-conductive interconnects 8 (such asregions A, B shown in FIG. 3) as continuous. Accordingly, the appearanceof the touch-sensitive device 1 could be improved by preventing theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 from being perceivable by thenaked eye. In some embodiments, the masking layer 5 and theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 are made of materials havingsimilar ingredients and colors, or materials having distinct colorswithout being easily discernible by the user. Moreover, a minimumspacing distance between an adjacent two of the electrically-conductiveinterconnects 8 is larger than the width of each of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 and ranges from about 0.1 mm toabout 1 mm. Such spacing distance is greater than the resolutionperceived by the naked eye. Therefore, the user would not view theadjacent two of the electrically-conductive interconnects 8 as beingconnected together, thereby further preventing the user from discerningthe electrically-conductive interconnects 8.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, an exemplary configuration of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 (see FIG. 2) is to arrange theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 to have the same width and be ina line. A first variation of the configuration of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 is shown in FIG. 4, where theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 are arranged to have increasingwidth. A second variation of the configuration of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 is shown in FIG. 5, where theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 are arranged in an array.Accordingly, electrical interconnection of the first touch-sensingelectrodes 3 and the first traces 6, and electrical interconnection ofthe second touch-sensing electrodes 4 and the second traces 7 could bemaintained while at the same time improving the appearance of thetouch-sensitive device 1.

The present disclosure also provides a production method for making atouch-sensitive device, such as the touch-sensitive device 1 shown inFIGS. 1 to 3. The first and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 arefirst formed on the cover plate 2. By using screen printing or coatingtechniques, the masking layer 5 is then formed on the periphery of thecover plate 2 to cover part of the first and second touch-sensingelectrodes 3, 4. By using laser etching or photolithography techniques,a plurality of spaced apart through holes (not shown) are formed in themasking layer 5 at regions covering the first and second touch-sensingelectrodes 3, 4. A plurality of the electrically-conductiveinterconnects 8 are formed in the through holes. Finally, the first andsecond traces 6, 7 are formed on the masking layer 5 opposite to thefirst and second touch-sensing electrodes 3, 4 and connected to theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8.

In the abovementioned method, in some embodiments, theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 and the first and second traces6, 7 are made sequentially from different materials. For example, theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 are made fromelectrically-conductive carbon adhesive and the first and second traces6, 7 are made from a material selected from silver paste, metal and thelike by screen printing, film deposition or photolithography. In anotherexample, the electrically-conductive interconnects 8 and the first andsecond traces 6, 7 are integrally formed with the same material.

To sum up, through the various dimensions and configurations of theelectrically-conductive interconnects 8 of the touch-sensitive device 1according to the present disclosure, the electrically-conductiveinterconnects 8 may be rendered imperceivable to the user, therebyimproving the appearance of the touch-sensitive device 1.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical embodiment, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended tocover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch-sensitive device comprising: a coverplate; at least one touch-sensing electrode that is disposed on saidcover plate; a masking layer that is disposed on a periphery of saidcover plate and that covers part of said touch-sensing electrode; aplurality of spaced apart through holes penetrating said masking layerat regions covering said part of said touch-sensing electrode; aplurality of traces disposed on said masking layer opposite to saidtouch-sensing electrode; and a plurality of electrically-conductiveinterconnects separate and distinct from said traces and formed in saidthrough holes, wherein: said electrically-conductive interconnectspenetrate said masking layer, said electrically-conductive interconnectsare spaced apart from one another, said electrically-conductiveinterconnects extend between said part of said touch-sensing electrodecovered by said masking layer and a select one of said traces, saidelectrically-conductive interconnects are made from carbon adhesives;and a minimum spacing distance between an adjacent two of saidelectrically-conductive interconnects is 0.1 mm.
 2. The touch-sensitivedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said minimum spacing distance islarger than a width of each of said electrically-conductiveinterconnects.
 3. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1,wherein a width of each of said electrically-conductive interconnectsranges from about 0.005 mm to about 0.05 mm.
 4. The touch-sensitivedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a first end of said touch-sensingelectrode is covered by said masking layer, said first end is disposedbetween an innermost edge and an outermost edge of said masking layer;and a second end of said touch-sensing electrode, diametrically oppositesaid first end, abuts said innermost edge of said masking layer.
 5. Thetouch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said masking layerand said electrically-conductive interconnects have the same or similarcolor.
 6. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmasking layer is a color photoresist or a color ink.
 7. Thetouch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelectrically-conductive interconnects are arranged in a line or anarray.
 8. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelectrically-conductive interconnects are arranged to have increasingwidth.
 9. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: atop surface of said touch-sensing electrode directly contacts a bottomsurface of said cover plate, said masking layer directly contacts abottom surface of said touch-sensing electrode, a sidewall of saidtouch-sensing electrode extending between said top surface of saidtouch-sensing electrode and said bottom surface of said touch-sensingelectrode, and said bottom surface of said cover plate, each of saidtraces directly contacts said masking layer, a firstelectrically-conductive interconnect of said electrically-conductiveinterconnects directly contacts said bottom surface of saidtouch-sensing electrode and a first trace of said traces, a secondelectrically-conductive interconnect of said electrically-conductiveinterconnects directly contacts said bottom surface of saidtouch-sensing electrode and said first trace, said first trace directlycontacts a portion of said masking layer extending between said firstelectrically-conductive interconnect and said secondelectrically-conductive interconnect, and said portion of said maskinglayer has a height equal to a height of said firstelectrically-conductive interconnect.
 10. A touch-sensitive devicecomprising: a cover plate; at least one touch-sensing electrode that isdisposed on said cover plate; a masking layer that is disposed on aperiphery of said cover plate and that covers part of said touch-sensingelectrode; at least one trace that is disposed on said masking layeropposite to said touch-sensing electrode; and a plurality ofelectrically-conductive interconnects that penetrate said masking layerand are spaced apart from one another, each of saidelectrically-conductive interconnects interconnecting said touch-sensingelectrode and said trace, wherein: said trace is made of a silver pasteand said electrically-conductive interconnects are made of anelectrically-conductive carbon adhesive, and a minimum spacing distancebetween an adjacent two of said electrically-conductive interconnects is0.1 mm.
 11. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 10, whereinsaid minimum spacing distance is larger than a width of each of saidelectrically-conductive interconnects.
 12. The touch-sensitive device asclaimed in claim 10, wherein said masking layer comprises a colorphotoresist.
 13. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 10,wherein said masking layer comprises a color ink.
 14. Thetouch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said maskinglayer and said electrically-conductive interconnects have a same color.15. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 10, wherein saidelectrically-conductive interconnects are arranged to have increasingwidth.